PTI
MumbaiDelhi's Shwetha Rana upset fifth seed Arthi Muniyan of Tamil Nadu, while defending champion Natasha Palha of Goa struggled her way past young Laltia Devarakonda of AP in first round action at the Rs 13 lakh AITA Ranking Anirudh Desai JVPG Tennis tournament on Monday.
Taking advantage of some lacklustre play from Arthi, the strong Shweta, a former India No 3 who is making a comeback after three months due to injury, was quick to run away with the first set with one break of serve. The second set was a virtual no-contest as Shweta emerged a 6-4, 6-0 winner at the suburban Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana courts.
India No 5 Natasha prevailed in three sets after a two-and-a-half-hour battle over Lalita, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.With both players struggling to hold serve, the heavier ground strokes of Natasha saw her hold the advantage over her opponent.
There were no hiccups for second seed Sharmada Baluu of Karnataka, who announced her good form in this event with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Delhis Samriti Puanyani. In men's action, fourth seed Suraj Prabodh of Karnataka beat Chandigarh's Ranjeet Singh 6-3, 6-3 while in a match between state mates, Karnataka's S D Prajwal Dev brushed aside Suraj Beniwal 6-1, 6-1.
Main draw results: Men (Round 1): Kunal Anand (DEL) bt Raghav Jaisinghani (MP) 6-2 7-6 (7); 4-Suraj Prabodh (KA) bt Ranjeet Singh (CH) 6-3 6-3 ; S D Prajwal Dev (KA) bt Suraj Beniwal (KA) 6-1 6-1; 8-Jayesh Pungaliya (MH) bt Sahil Gaware (MH) 6-3 6-3.
Women (Round 1): 1-Natasha Palha (Goa) bt Lalita Devarakonda (AP) 6-4 4-6 6-2; Shweta Rana (DL) bt 5-Arthi Muniyan (TN) 6-4 6-0; 2-Sharrmada Baluu (KA) bt Samriti Punyani (DL) 6-2 6-1; Baburaj Nithyaraj (TN) bt Saumya Vig (GJ) 6-1 6-2; Nida Kamal (MH) bt Preethi Ujjini (KA) 6-2 5-7 6-0; Nandini Sharma (PB) bt Isha Budwal (MP) 6-4 6-3; Sahan Shetty (KA) bt Dakshata Patel (MH) 6-3 6-2; Himani Mor (HR) bt Neeru Rapria (HR) 6-1 (conceded); Moulika Ram (AP) bt Sagarika Phadke (MH) 6-2 6-1.
